R. A. Salvatore

For over 15 years, author R. A. Salvatore has contributed to the
delightful overlap between gaming and reading through his Forgotten
Realms books - based on the most popular campaign setting ever
invented for that classic role-playing game, Dungeons and Dragons.

Salvatore is justly praised for his extraordinary skills in combat narrative;
his books are filled with nonstop action, detailed, blow-by-blow
swordsmanship, and large quantities of orc and goblin guts
splattering the ground. But more than that, Salvatore has
created rich, complex characters and enough humor to add depth
to the plots and emotionally involve his readers in his characters'
fates.

R. A. Salvatore Biography

Bob Salvatore was born and bred in Massachusetts, where he still
lives with his wife, Diane, and their three children. After
reading Lord of the Rings in college, Bob turned his
efforts toward literature, writing for years (as do most authors)
before publishing The Crystal Shard(Book 1 of Icewind Dale)
through TSR in 1988.

By 1990, Bob was able to turn to writing full time, producing
twenty best-selling Forgotten Realms novels to date, including
TSR's first hardback, The Legacy (Book 1 of the Legacy
of the Drow series), as well as several other non-FR fantasy
books.

Following is a chronological (by publication date) bibliography of Salvatore's
Forgotten Realms books. Except for the second series, the
Dark Elf Trilogy, which is a prequel, the books are also in
order of Forgotten Realms chronology.

R. A. Salvatore's first Forgotten Realms trilogy, based
on the tremendously popular game, introduces everyone's
favorite character - the infamous and beloved Dark Elf
ranger Dritzz Do'Urden, along with barbarian warrior
Wulfgar, the dwarf Bruenor, the halfling Regis, and
the girl - Cattie-brie. They fight and they fight and
they win. They go on arduous quests and prevail. We
all have fun. Action-packed and very fast-paced. The
writing is pretty good, considering these are Salvatore's
first books. They're a great place to start and well
worth reading.

The new collector's omnibus is the way to go, as it has
all three books in one volume at a much better price,
but here are the three in the series, just in case you
want them separately:

Salvatore hits his stride with this extremely popular (no, loved)
trilogy that follows the adventures of that most perfect
of warriors, Dritzz Do'Urden. Gripping, fast-paced pageturners,
with well-developed characterizations, these books have
delighted readers for years and will continue to do
so for years to come.

Homeland: Dark Elf Trilogy Book 1 - Chronicles Dritzz'
beginnings in the dark underworld of the evil Drow (his
race), Menzoberranzan. When I started this book, I thought
it was going to be an ugly book about cruel beings,
but it is about Dritzz' realizations and transformation.

Exile: Dark Elf Trilogy Book 2 - Chronicles Dritzz'
adventures in the world of the Underdark, after exile
from his home city, and his quest to redefine his personal
identity.

Sojourn: Dark Elf Trilogy Book 3 - Dritzz leaves
the Underdark for the harsh surface of the planet and
finds a measure of acceptance from others as he continues
to evolve his own identity. A slap-bang finish to the
trilogy.

Also set in the Forgotten Realms, the Cleric Quintet introduces
a new main hero, Cadderly the cleric (naturally), along
with the humorous dwarven Bouldershoulder brothers (gotta
love that name), girlfriend Danica the monk (there is
a lovely and moving romance throughout the series),
and other interesting characters. While many fans love
this series, it is not nearly as universally popular
as the books featuring Dritzz.

Canticle (Cleric Quintet, Book 1) - Cadderly, the
young scholar-priest, lives and studies at the Edificant
Library, a peaceful existence soon to be shattered,
whether Cadderly is quite ready or not.

In Sylvan Shadows (Cleric Quintet, Book 2) - Cadderly
(and companions) on quest must save the elves of the
Shilmista Forest from the usual suspects - goblins,
orcs, et al, and the evil controlling them.

Night Masks (Cleric Quintet, Book 3) - In the city
of Carradoon, Cadderly and friends are up against vigorous
assassins, the Night Masks, while Cadderly continues
his personal religious struggles. Perhaps the best in
the series.

The Fallen Fortress (Cleric Quintet, Book 4) - Caradoon
and Shilmista Forest against Castle Trinity, stronghold
of Cadderly's enemy Aballister - can an all-out war
be averted? Do we care? The weakest of the series.

The Chaos Curse (Cleric Quintet, Book 5) - Cadderly
returns to the Edificant Library, seeking to rebuild
his quiet life - but he and his companions find the
library taken over by an evil that will prove Cadderly's
greatest spiritual and emotional challenge.

Picking up a short time after the time of Icewind Dale, we're
back in the exciting adventures of Dritzz and his friends
as this terrific New York Times bestselling series
begins - Wulfgar and Cattie-Brie plan to the tie the
knot, but wouldn't you know? Bad things start happening
and our favorite band of heroes is up to their necks
in blood and guts, swords and sorcery. Very well written,
this is one of Salvatore's best series.

The Legacy (Legacy of the Drow, Book 1) - Just when
things seems to be settling down, old enemies (eg, Artemis)
reappear. There's fighting, then there's some fighting,
then they fight some more.

Starless Night (Legacy of the Drow, Book 2) - Dritzz
must return to the Underdark to rescue his friends and
decides he may as well check out what's up in his old
home town, Menzoberranzan - not a good plan.

Siege of Darkness (Legacy of the Drow, Book 3) -
The focal point of this novel is a huge battle between
the dwarves and the drow as the world enters its Time
of Troubles.

Passage to Dawn (Legacy of the Drow, Book 4) - Series
finale joins Dritzz and his companions with Cadderly
and his friends in a perilous quest back to Icewind
Dale.

The Paths of Darkness series has the world's most famous
dark elf Dritzz, the lovely Cattie-brie, Regis, Bruenor,
and, yes, Wulfgar, back in the saddle and off to new
adventures. Better yet, The Silent Blade brings
back Drizzt's nemesis, master assassin Artemis Entreri
(the man we love to hate).

The Silent Blade (Paths of Darkness, Book 1) - Dritzz
and friends seek the evil artifact Crenshinibon, while
Artemis Entreri returns to Calimport. Lots of great
action and good characterization, as Wulfgar deals with
his recent, traumatic past.

The Spine of the World (Paths of Darkness, Book 2)
- Wulfgar, reduced to life as drunken bum, gets a rude
awakening when charged with murder - now he's on the
run (with friend Morik the rogue) and out to wield a
mighty warhammer once again. Action-packed, though missing
our usual hero.

Servant of the Shard (Paths of Darkness, Book 3)
- The dark elf mercenary band Bregan D'aerthe team up
with Artemis Entreri in this story (again missing Dritzz)
meant for Artemis' fans who want to know more, much
more about him. This is a terrific book.

Sea of Swords (Paths of Darkness, Book 4) - Now
in paperback, Sea of Swords has the gang off to rescue
Wulfgar and aid him in retrieving Aegis-fang. Meanwhile,
pale elf Le'Lorinel is out to get Dritzz.

This series by R.A. Salvatore kicks off with The
Thousand Orcs (Hunter's Blades Book 1) - Dritzz and his friends are
on their way to Mithral Hall for the crowning of King
Bruenor when they stumble into a band of orcs. Little
do they know that this skirmish is just the the beginning
of an all-out war planned by orcish King Obould in alliance
with the frost giants. More great action and adventure
from the master of combat.

The Lone Drow (Forgotten Realms: The Hunter's Blades Trilogy,
Book 2) - The action continues in this outstanding,
best-selling series.

The Two Swords (Forgotten Realms: The Hunter's Blades Trilogy,
Book 3) - Third and final volume in the Hunter's Blades Trilogy
continues the epic adventures of Drizzt Do'Urden and
his companions.

Promise
of the Witch King (Sellswords Trilogy Book 2)
By R. A. Salvatore

Sequel (long-awaited) to Servant of the Shard. Jarlaxle
and Artemis Entreri seek an artifact of the Witch King
Zhengyi in distant Vaasa. Undercover in the Army of
Bloodstone, they find lots of action fighting goblins,
ogres and other creatures. Lots of intrique and sword-play.
A terrific follow-up to the first book in the series.

"Ilnezhara and Tazmikella are ancient dragons of great power,
accustomed to easily manipulating the humans around them. But not
all humans are so easily led. When they pushed Entreri and Jarlaxle
into the heart of the Bloodstone Lands, not even they could have imagined
the strength of the human assassinís resolve, or the limitless expanse
of the drow mercenaryís ambition." - description. Well received
finale in this popular series.

The Orc King (Forgotten Realms: Transitions, Book 1)
By R. A. Salvatore

"Drizzt is back in this exciting new trilogy from R.A. Salvatore!

An uneasy peace between the dwarves of Mithral Hall and the orcs of the newly established Kingdom
of Many-Arrows can't last long. The orc tribes united under Obould begin to fight each other, and
Bruenor is determined to finish the war that nearly killed him and almost destroyed everything
he's worked to build. But it will take more than swords and axes to bring a lasting peace to the
Spine of the World. Powerful individuals on both sides may have to change the way they see each
other. They may have to start to talk. But it won't be easy." - description.

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